The Columbus City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a contract for Birmingham, Ala.-based KPS Group Inc. to begin developing a comprehensive plan for the city.
KPS Group will work with the city”s engineering firm, Neel-Schaffer Inc., to develop and prioritize a list of previous plans done in the city as the first phase in the comprehensive plan process.
The council approved the first phase Tuesday, at a cost of $17,400 to the city.
The total cost for a comprehensive plan likely would be about $70,000.
The council earlier held a public hearing to determine whether residents wanted a comprehensive plan developed; those who spoke in favor of a plan emphasized steps should be taken to implement a developed plan and the plan should be used.
In other matters, the council Tuesday:
- Approved a recommendation to establish Tri-South Aviation as the new fixed-base operator for the Lowndes County Airport of Highway 69. Representatives of Taloney Air Service, the previous FBO, earlier served notice of an intent to no longer manage the airport.
Tri-South Aviation will serve as the FBO under a two-year agreement, with two five- to 10-year extension agreements to be available.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors approved the arrangement Monday at a cost of about $10,000 per year to the county; the city and county are splitting the total costs.
- Considered a request for new software for the Columbus and Lowndes County E-911 operations.
The E-911 agency is in a “terrible predicament” with the agency”s existing software, which was provided at no cost and is not serviced with a maintenance agreement, noted Columbus Fire Chief Ken Moore, who serves on the E-911 board of directors.
Kevin Forrester, the information technology specialist for E-911 and the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office, recommended the city and county purchase new software and technical support from PTS Solutions, which provides computer software for the LCSO and Columbus Police Department.
Purchasing software shared by the law enforcement agencies would ensure “no duplication of efforts” and an “integrated software solution” allowing the agencies to better communicate with each other, Forrester said.
Installation and four days of training on the software would cost the city about $6,400; the council was asked for a down payment of $31,400 on the total cost, to be shared with the county.
Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin, who chaired the council meeting as vice mayor in the absence of Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, noted “money is tight” and suggested “looking at other options.”
Additionally, he suggested “holding off” on spending the money on the software until the next fiscal year, which begins in October, a concern expressed Monday by the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors, who tabled the request until their March 15 board meeting.
The council agreed to form a committee — comprising the city”s chief financial officer, Mike Bernsen, the city”s chief administrative officer, David Armstrong, the county”s chief financial officer, Dave Basinger, County Administrator Ralph Billingsley and Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John — to review the proposal and make a recommendation to the supervisors March 15 and the council March 16.
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